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Public engagement

Each year we offer up to £10 million through our wide-ranging Engaging Science grants programme to support projects that encourage people from all ages and from all walks of life to be informed, inspired and involved. Whether you work in science, the arts, media or education, we want to hear your ideas for projects that build excitement and interest around science and society. We support projects in many different areas, including film-making, theatre productions, exhibitions, discussion and policy-influencing events and multimedia.

We expect our major research groups to engage with the public about their work, and therefore offer training, funding, opportunities and advice. We also work with other research funders, universities and research institutes to foster a research culture in which public engagement is valued, recognised and supported.

Our Broadcast, Games and Film team work with the entertainment industry to support fresh approaches and original ideas inspired by science and its impact on society. We seed ideas, facilitate access to experts and offer funding for development and production.

We directly commission work and develop partnerships with other organisations to reach broader audiences and support innovative practice. Taking inspiration from scientific themes, public events or anniversaries we deliver national-scale engagement programmes. Recent examples include In the Zone - celebrating London 2012, Dirt – inspired by a Wellcome Collection exhibition of the same name, and Wonder – a collaboration between the British Neuroscience Association and the Barbican.

See the Wellcome Trust’s
strategy page for more information on our focus areas and aims.

The Hub AwardProject funding and a stimulating space for researchers and other creative minds.

Funded projects

Featured projectER Surgery WorkshopFunded by a People Award, the ER Surgery Workshop was an event at the Edinburgh International Science Festival that allowed children to investigate and 'operate' on a range of diseased or injured manikin 'patients'.